“I was well pleased. Whether they were or not, I cannot tell. They said, however, a variety of agreeable nothings, and I am to see the count to-morrow. He kept Porthos and Aramis and, I suspect, gave the two fools a lecture.”
“Well, well,” said Merton. “When I left the regiment I thought I was out of the world of adventure.”
“Oh, this is comic opera. I do not suppose that you really want to fight these idiots.”
“No; but I will, if they desire to be thus amused. Otherwise there will have to be some word-eating. I was not bluffing.”
“Porthos will stick it out. You won’t be too stiff-necked, I trust.”
“Oh, no. I leave myself in your hands—I mean absolutely; and I want also to say, Greville, that this queer affair ought to make us friends.”
“It has,” I returned with warmth. “You dine with the minister next week, I believe.”
“Yes, Monday.”